DRYANDRA STUDY GROUP NE-WSLETTER NO. 20

D r y a n d r a q u e r c i f o l i a

SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS

- 1 - DRYANDRA STUDY GROUP

LEADER Mrs Margare t P i e r o n i 16 C a l p i n Cres. A t t a d a l e W.A. 6156

NEWSLETTER EDITOR M r Tony Cavanagh 16 Woodlands D r . Ocean Grove V I C . 3226

V i c t o r i a has j u s t expe r i enced t h e w e t t e s t June on reco rd , f o l l o w i n g t h e d r i e s t f i v e months f o r many yea rs . One t h i n g abou t V i c t o r i a , you have p l e n t y o f v a r i e t y ! I t ' s t o o e a r l y t o say how t h e weather m i g h t a f f e c t ou r gardens b u t t h e abnorma l l y m i l d autumn and e a r l y w i n t e r seem t o have upse t t h e growing c y c l e and many o f my p l a n t s a r e e i t h e r f l o w e r i n g out-of-season o r a r e q u i t e l a t e . D. l o n g i f o l i a , however has once aga in been p a r t i c u l a r l y f l o r i f e r o u s w h i l e D. n o b i l i s , D. formosus and LJ. praernarza, among other;, a r e coming n i c e l y i n t o bud. My s e v e r a l fo rms of D. nivea, D. b r o w n i i and D. a r c t o t i d i s a r e a l l l o o k i n g v e r y h e a l t h y b u t because t hey h i d e t h e i r f l o w e r s , I u s u a l l y r e g a r d them as f o l i a g e p l a n t s .

Most o f t h e N e w s l e t t e r i s devo ted t o t h e f i r s t h a l f o f an o u t s t a n d i n g a r t i c l e by K e i t h A lcock on r a i s i n g d r yand ras f rom seed. The w e a l t h o f i n f o r m a t i o n i t c o n t a i n s i s enormous and I commend i t t o a l l members. T h i s i s t h e f i r s t t ime t o my knowledge t h a t anyone has c a r r i e d o u t such a comprehensive su rvey o f the g e r m i n a t i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f seeds f rom n e a r l y a l l spec ies o f a genus and i t i s e s p e c i a l l y v a l u a b l e i n i n d i c a t i n g which ones a r e l i k e l y t o g i v e poor r e s u l t s and /o r s u f f e r l o s s e s a f t e r po t t i ng -up . I have a l s o i n c l u d e d s e v e r a l s h o r t a r t i c l e s f rom members on t h e i r success w i t h r a i s i n g d ryandras f rom seed and a l s o some r e p o r t s on members gardens. I have h e l d ove r s e v e r a l a r t i c l e s b u t am s t i l l anx ious t o comp le te t h e su rvey o f d ryandras i n c u l t i v a t i o n f o r 1991. I have r e c e i v e d o n l y a few survey shee ts and I need more b e f o r e I t r y t o summarise t h e r e s u l t s . P l e a s e t r y t o complete you r shee ts a f t e r t h e w i n t e r f l o w e r i n g .

The o t h e r n o t e i s a b r i e f o b i t u a r y f o r Ken Stuckey which I wro te f o r t h e V i c t o r i a n SGAP N e w s l e t t e r . Ken was agenerous b e n e f a c t o r t o t he s tudy group and u n t i l t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f Cranbourne, p robab l y had t h e most e x t e n s i v e c o l l e c t i o n o f d ryandras i n c u l t i v a t i o n i n A u s t r a l i a . A keen c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t as w e l l as an a v i d grower , Ken was an i n s p i r a t i o n t o a l l and h i s l o s s w i l l be k e e n l y f e l t by a l l who knew him.

The l a s t two pages o f t h e N e w s l e t t e r c o n t a i n t e a r - o f f s l i p s f o r even ts which a r e happening on o p p o s i t e s i d e s o f t h e c o u n t r y i n August and October . F i r s t l y , on t h e weekend o f t h e 2 4 t h and 2 5 t h o f August, we a r e hop ing t o h o l d a g e t - t o g e t h e r i n Sheppar ton. T e n t a t i v e p l ans a r e f o r ga rden /nursery v i s i t s on t h e Sa tu rday , an i n f o r m a l pub t e a on Saturday n i g h t f o l l o w e d by an evening a t Dav id and Pam S h i e l l s t o wh i ch members a r e asked t o b r i n g s l i d e s , specimens and q u e s t i o n s . Sunday w i l l i n c l u d e a bush v i s i t ( t h e r e a r e some e x c e l l e n t a reas around Sheppar ton) , f i n i s h i n g up w i t h a ( l a t e ) bar-b-que lunch . As i n d i c a t e d on t h e shee t , members w i l l need t o make t h e i r own arrangements f o r accommodation and I w i l l need t o know by no later t h a n J u l y 22nd who i s coming. The g e t - t o g e t h e r l a s t yea r a t Cranbourne was most e n j o y a b l e so l e t ' s make t h i s yea rs j u s t as s u c c e s s f u l .

The o t h e r i m p o r t a n t even t f o r a l l d ryandra l o v e r s i s M a r g a r e t ' s proposed 3 Day ' S e l f - D r i v e ' t r i p t o t h e S t i r l i n g s on t he 11 /12 /13 th o f October , f o l l o w i n g t he ASGAP Conference i n P e r t h . W i t h as many as 50 d ryandras on v iew ( n o t t o ment ion t h e many o t h e r w i l d f l o w e r s f o r which t h e a rea i s renowned), t h i s i s an o p p o r t u n i t y n o t t o be missed . Margare t must have a f i rm i n d i c a t i o n by t h e 30 th a u g u s t as she needs t o c o n f i r m book ings w i t h t h e S t i r l i n g Range Caravan Park. P lease send your c o n f i r m a t i o n d i r e c t t o Margaret .

And f i n a l l y , J u l y marks t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a new f i n a n c i a l year and annual s u b s c r i p t i o n s a r e now due. A t e a r - o f f shee t i s s u p p l i e d . We have k e p t t h e fees a t 85.00, t h e same as l a s t y e a r .

A l l t h e b e s t w i t h your d r y a n d r a g row ing .

VALE KEN STUCKEY

I t was w i t h a g r e a t d e a l o f sadness t h a t I l e a r n e d o f t h e r e c e n t d e a t h o f Ken Stuckey. Ken was found i n h i s b a n k s i a p a t c h on A p r i l 21 a f t e r b e i n g r e p o r t e d m iss ing f rom h i s home. He had been i n ill h e a l t h f o r many months p r e v i o u s l y and had been u n a b l e t o a t t e n d an SGAP meet ing i n Februa ry where he was awarded Assoc ia te L i f e Membership o f t h e S o c i e t y i n South A u s t r a l i a .

I f i r s t met Ken i n t h e mid 7 0 ' s soon a f t e r we had s e t up t h e Dryandra Study Group. D e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t d ryandras were then h a r d l y known h o r t i c u l t u r a l l y , Ken had a wide range wh ich he modes t l y showed me. They had a l l been grown f rom seed c o l l e c t e d by Ken i n many t r i p s t o t h e West and formed j u s t a s m a l l p a r t o f . h i s wonder fu l garden a t F u r n e r , o u t s i d e o f M i l l i c e n t i n S o i l t h A u s t r a l i a . Ken a lways had a s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t i n t h e Pro teaceae and I'll never f o r g e t my as ton ishment a t t h e s i g h t o f a row (perhaps up t o 30 p l a n t s ) o f t h e v e r y r a r e Banksia q o o d i i and a whole paddock o f many hundreds o f p l a n t s o f Isopoqon cuneatus. Wh i le he was an a v i d c o l l e c t o r , Ken was a l s o v e r y generous w i t h h i s t i m e and h i s p l a n t s . The gardens were opened f o r c h a r i t y v i s i t s on numerous occas ions , and he was a lways w i l l i n g t o see SGAP members and t o sha re w i t h them h i s knowledge, ga ined t h e ha rd way f rom o b s e r v a t i o n s o f p l a n t s i n t h e f i e l d and from h i s own exper imen ts . He had an uncanny a b i l i t y t o be a b l e t o p u t names t o t h e most obscure p l a n t s and an a f t e r n o o n s p e n t w i t h Ken i n h i s garden was w o r t h much more than many hours r e a d i n g abou t p l a n t s i n books.

Ken was a p i o n e e r i n t h e g row ing o f A u s t r a l i a n p l a n t s , an i n t e r e s t he developed i n t h e 3 0 ' s when i t was f a r f rom f a s h i o n a b l e . He corresponded w i t h and had c l o s e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e o t h e r p i o n e e r s - A l b y L i n d n e r , Dave Gordon, t h e A l t h o f e r b r o t h e r s and A l f Grey t o name j u s t some. P r o f e s s i o n a l b o t a n i s t s and h o r t i c u l t u r a l i s t s reespec ted Ken 's knowledge and most were i n t r i g u e d w i t h t h e v a r i e t y and lushness o f t h e p l a n t s t h a t he grew on h i s g r e y , c a l c a r i o u s sands.

I n t h e e a r l y BO's, Ken w i t h t h e h e l p o f h i s daugh te r developed a t h r i v i n g bus iness w i t h c u t f l o w e r s and p ioneered t h e e x p o r t o f f o l i a g e t o t h e Japanese market where leaves o f A u s t r a l i a n p l a n t s such as Banksia qrand is and Dryandra drummundii were h i g h l y sought a f t e r . The Ash Wednesday b u s h f i r e s wh ich ravaged South-east South A u s t r a l i a , and b u r n t o u t t h e e n t i r e p r o p e r t y , d e s t r o y e d a l l t h i s , Ken and h i s w i f e o n l y escap ing w i t h t h e i r l i v e s by jumping i n t o t h e swimming p o o l . Yet w i t h i n a few months, Ken was busy p l a n t i n g a g a i n and k e e n l y o b s e r v i n g t h e r e g e n e r a t i o n o f a whole new c r o p o f p l a n t s where once t h e p l a n t a t i o n s o f banks ias and d ryandras s tood . He w r o t e s e v e r a l a r t i c l e s on h i s o b s e r v a t i o n s and s e n t me n o t e s on what had happened t o h i s d ryandras . On ly a few weeks back, he gave me seed o f what he t h o u g h t was a h y b r i d wh ich came up a f t e r t h e f i r e . We w i l l be p l a n t i n g t h i s a t t h e Cranbourne Annexe w i t h t h e p l a n t s Ken gave us i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s .

T h i s g i f t o f seed o f an unusua l p l a n t was t y p i c a l o f t h e man. He gave f r e e l y o f h i s knowledge, h i s t i m e and h i s p l a n t s and encouraged o t h e r s t o grow and observe o u r n a t i v e f l o r a . We i n t h e S o c i e t y f o r Growing A u s t r a l i a n P l a n t s owe a g r e a t d e a l t o p i o n e e r s l i k e Ken Stuckey. Would i t n o t be a p p r o p r i a t e t o commemorate h i s work w i t h a s c h o l a r s h i p o r p r i z e f o r s t u d e n t s o f h o r t i c u l t u r e o r f o r o t h e r t e r t i r y s t u d e n t s work ing w i t h o u r n a t i v e f l o r a ?

Tony Cavanagh.

MY GARDEN I N PERTH

My home i s on a s m a l l suburban b l o c k , s i t u a t e d between t h e c o a s t and t h e Swan V a l l e y , n o r t h o f P e r t h . The b l o c k i s on t h e e a s t f a c i n g s l o p e o f a n o r t h - s o u t h r u n n i n g h i l l and t h e a r e a i s f a i r l y exposed t o t h e p r e v a i l i n g winds, a l t h o u g h some p r o t e c t i o n i s g i v e n by t h e 2m g r e y f i b r o u s f e n c e a t t h e back and on b o t h s i d e s .

O r i g i n a l l y open banks ia and j a r r a h woodland, t h e ' s o i l ' was g r e y q u a r t z sand ove r deep y e l l o w sand o f t h e Bassendean dune system. Most o f t h e ' t o p s o i l ' was removed o r covered when t h e house was b u i l t and a t t h e back ( f a c i n g n o r t h and e a s t ) t h e y e l l o w sand housepad i s q u i t e e l e v a t e d .

Because o f t h e d i f f e r i n g h e i g h t s and s l o p e s , i n making t h e garden t h e whole a r e a was developed i n t o a s e r i e s o f h i g h and low r o c k e r i e s u s i n g v a r i o u s s i z e r o c k s o f g r a n i t e and l i m e s t o n e and w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f good da rk humus bush sand. L a t e r i t e g r a v e l and good q u a l i t y l o c a l Compeat was i n c o r p o r a t e d t o depths o f 30cm t o one met re . Some a reas a r e m o s t l y da rk sand, o t h e r s m o s t l y y e l l o w sand, some m o s t l y g r a v e l w i t h t h e r e s t mixed.

A d r i p i r r i g a t i o n system was i n s t a l l e d t h r o u g h o u t and I began p l a n t i n g a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f summer ( l a t e November) t o s t o p t h e sand b l o w i n g . A l l t h e d ryandra s p e c i e s were p l a n t e d v e r y s m a l l (some o n l y a few cms). A t p l a n t i n g , each was g i v e n h a l f a teaspoon o f low phosphorus Osmocote o r N u t r i c o t e , a q u a r t e r o f a teaspoon o f t r a c e e lements and a t r o w e l o f Compeat mixed i n t o t h e s o i l a t t h e base o f t h e h o l e . A t f i r s t , p l a n t s were watered d a i l y d u r i n g t h e h o t weather, eas ing g r a d u a l l y t o a deep w a t e r i n g once e v e r y f o u r days u n t i l t h e y were w e l l enough e s t a b l i s h e d t o a l l o w me t o move t h e d r i p p e r s t o o t h e r p l a n t i n g s . T h i s appears t o be t h e most d i f f i c u l t t o assess as some p l a n t s r e q u i r e more water than o t h e r s d u r i n g o u r h o t summer and g e n e r a l l y need more r e g u l a r w a t e r i n g than was necessary i n t h e h e a v i e r loam g r a v e l o f my fo rmer garden. D r y a n d r a p l u m o s a and D. l o n g i f o l i a g e t some 10 minu tes e x t r a d a i l y s p r a y i n t h e e a r l y morning f rom n e x t door , b u t f o r t u n a t e l y i t does n o t seem t o t r o u b l e them.

My o l d e s t p l a n t s a r e l e s s than 18 months and some such as D . I o n g i f o l i a , D. f o r m o s a , ASG 2 4 , a p o s s i b l e new s p e c i e s f rom Badg ingar ra w i t h a f f i n i t i e s w i t h D . n o b i l i s and ASG 23 , t h e t a l l fo rm o f D. f r a s e r i f rom near Three Spr ings , a r e around a me t re h i g h . T h i s appears t o me t o be q u i t e remarkab le g rowth wh ich I f i n d v e r y d i f f e r e n t f rom g rowth i n t h e h i l l s where p l a n t s were s low t o e s t a b l i s h b u t then f l o u r i s h e d and were g e n e r a l l y ha rdy and l o n g l i v e d . My concern i s t h a t because t h e s e a r e e s t a b l i s h i n g so q u i c k l y , t h e i r l i v e s may be shor tened - t i m e w i l l t e l l !

E l i z a b e t h George.

DRYANDRAS AT CORONET BAY AND THE GURDIES, VICTORIA

I was r e c e n t l y l u c k y enough t o spend t h r e e months (Oc tober t o December) i n Western A u s t r a l i a i n 1990 and managed t o cove r most o f t h e a reas i n which d ryandras grow. Margare t was a g r e a t h e l p i n g i v i n g us i n f o r m a t i o n on s p e c i a l a reas t o v i s i t and p a r t i c u l a r p l a n t s t o l o o k f o r and I now have many months o f work ahead o f me i n s o r t i n g o u t specimens, s l i d e s and t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f d ryandra l e a v e s t h a t I made. My w i f e M e r y l k e p t a d e t a i l e d d i a r y wh ich has proved i n v a l u a b l e f o r c h e c k i n g d e t a i l s - good r e c o r d s a r e v e r y i m p o r t a n t when t r y i n g t o r e c o n s t r u c t a t r i p i n l a t e r y e a r s !

As f a r as p l a n t g rowth h e r e was concerned, i t was anyone 's guess as t o what would happen when I was away. These t h r e e months can cover a most extreme range o f weather p a t t e r n s , r a n g i n g f rom wet w i t h low tempera tu res t o h o t and d r y . A t The Gurd ies , I t ook a gamble and s e t t h e a u t o m a t i c s p r i n k l e r system

- k- f o r "normal" December-type weather, hoping i t would n o t make t h e p l a n t s t oo wet i n October and November. I t seemed t o work as t he l osses were no g r e a t e r than usua l .

CORONET BAY

The number o f dryandras here i s decreasing, ma in ly because I haven ' t t h e t ime t o do the necessary weeding and i n p a r t i c u l a r c u t t i n g back o f t he p l a n t s t h a t a re competing w i t h my dryandras. Also, because I i n t e n d t o concen t ra te f u t u r e p l a n t i n g s around the house a t The Gurdies, I am n o t r e p l a c i n g those t h a t d i e a t Coronet Bay.

302 D. obtusa. I t s l o s s was n o t unexpected as I mentioned i n my p rev ious r e p o r t . 108. D. n i vea . Th is was an unexpected and d i s a p p o i n t i n g l o s s as i t was a l a r g e and hea l t hy p l a n t which f lowered w e l l each year. I t was n o t f a r from 105 D. ( ? )n i vea which was mentioned as a l o s s i n l a s t years r e p o r t so I guess i t su f f e red t h e same d e p r i v a t i o n . 215 D. p t e r i d i f o l i a . Th is l o s s was another s u r p r i s e a l t hough i t had become overcrowded by a B. dryandro ides and a G r e v i l l e a b a n k s i i . 286 D. praemorsa. My t h i r d unexpected l oss . Though crowded, t he p l a n t was look ing h e a l t h y and f l ower i ng . &s i t i s one o f t he h a r d i e s t dryandras, I am l o s t f o r an exp lana t i on except t h a t i t was p o s s i b l y loosened i n t h e ground by the s t rong winds o f sp r i ng . 101 D. n i vea . Th is p l a n t seemed t o s t r u g g l e i n i t s e a r l y years b u t i s now look ing very h e a l t h y and s t rong and f l o w e r s every year b u t h a s n ' t produced any seed ye t . On checking, I b e l i e v e i t cou ld be D. b r o w n i i b u t I need t o c o n f i r m i t s o r i g i n .

THE GURDIES

8903 D. sp. This smal l p l a n t was n o t f u l l y es tab l i shed and succumbed d u r i n g the d ry weather. Two o the r specimens have su rv i ved a l t hough c u t back by t h e d ry . 8600 D. ashby i . I understand t h i s should be r e f e r r e d t o as D. f r a s e r i . One o f the advantages o f g i v i n g each p l a n t a number i s t h a t i t i s easy t o keep tabs on a p l a n t ' s progress even i f names change w i t h r e v i s i o n s over t ime. The p l a n t i s growing w e l l a l though a main branch d i e d and new growth seems t o be making up f o r t h i s temporary s e t back. 8408, 8607, 8608, 8609, 8610 and 8612 a l l D. b i p i n n a t i f i d a con t i nue t o do b a t t l e w i t h t he r a b b i t s . Al though t h e i r green growth i s r e s t r i c t e d , I t h i n k t h e i r underground growth i s deve lop ing w e l l . Th i s year t h e r a b b i t popu la t i on has been seve re l y r e s t r i c t e d and I hope these p l a n t s w i l l now begin t o ge t ahead. 9002, 9003 & 9004 a1 1 D. drummondii a r e new a d d i t i o n s i n t h e pas t twe lve months. One was a purchased p l a n t , the o t h e r s were grown f rom seed. Even though t h e i r growth has n o t been spec tacu la r , t he f a c t t h a t they surv ived wh i l e I was away g i ves me grounds f o r hope. 8208, 8209 & 8210 a l l D. formosa were seve re l y pruned l a s t year . Al though they f lowered w e l l , i t was n o t as good as I had hoped. I w i l l n o t be q u i t e so " c r u e l " i n f u t u r e ! As I w r i t e t h i s r e p o r t ( l a t e May), t h e f i r s t f l o w e r s f o r 1991 have opened and i t looks as i f I can expect hundreds more over the nex t few months. The f l owers look much l a r g e r than usua l , some be ing up t o 100 mm across. 8213 which was a l s o pruned w i t h the o the rs d i d n o t see the year ou t . I t had never been as s t rong as t he o the rs and compe t i t i on f rom a Banksia i n t e g r i f o l i a f i n i s h e d i t o f f . 8904 D. sp. Kamballup: came from seed t h a t Margaret sen t me and i s now a s t rong p l a n t . The extremes o f weather do n o t seem t o worry i t and I wou ldn ' t be su rp r i sed if i t f lowered i n a year o r so. Margaret had t o l d me of the one spot where i t grows and I found i t w i t h o u t too much d i f f i c u l t y . I took some s l i d e s o f t h e p l a n t s a l though a l l f l o w e r i n g had f i n i s h e d . I hope t h a t mine cont inues t o f l o u r i s h and f l owers and s e t s seed as I f e a r t h a t i n t h e i r n a t u r a l l o c a t i o n , they cou ld w e l l be i n danger o f e x t i n c t i o n . 8621 & 8622 D. n i vea were overshadowed by o t h e r p l a n t s which a l s o tended t o

keep t h e i r l o c a t i o n f a i r l y damp and i t h i n k t h e s e two f a c t o r s may have c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e deaths . 8205 D. p t e r i d i f o l i a has s t r u g g l e d a g a i n s t g r a s s and weeds and I was s u r p r i s e d t o f i n d i t was s u r v i v i n g f a i r l y w e l l when I r e t u r n e d . I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h i s p l a n t has p u z z l e d me o v e r t h e y e a r s b u t a f t e r s e e i n g D. p r e i s s e i i n t h e w i l d , I b e l i e v e t h i s i s what i t a c t u a l l y i s . 9001 D. q u e r c i f o l i a i s a n o t h e r new p l a n t s i n c e l a s t r e p o r t and, a l t h o u g h I have t r i e d i t many t imes i n t h e p a s t , t h i s i s t h e f i r s t t i m e I have g o t one p a s t a w i n t e r and a summer.

A t t h e moment I have o n l y a few seeds i n excep t f o r a c o u p l e o f t r a y s o f D. formosa and D. praemorsa. I ' m l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o s p r i n g when I can p l a n t most o f my r e m a i n i n g seed.

H a r t l e y Tob in

EXPERIENCES WITH DRYANDRAS I N SOUTH AUSTRALIA

L a s t y e a r , we managed t o r a i s e q u i t e a few d ryandra s e e d l i n g s f o l l o w i n g an autumn p l a n t i n g . However, t h a t was t h e easy p a r t f o r as soon as t h e v e r y h o t weather a r r i v e d , many o f them seccumbed and t h i s c o n t i n u e d r i g h t th rough t o t h e end o f March. T h i s summer was v e r y d r y and o u r r a i n f a l l was o n l y about a t h i r d o f o u r u s u a l .

There appeared t o be v e r y few problems w i t h p o t t i n g t h e s e e d l i n g s b u t t h e prob lems s t a r t e d w i t h t h e h e a t waves. We a r e n o t s u r e o f t h e reasons f o r t h e l o s s e s b u t i t may have been due t o o v e r w a t e r i n g o r t o t h e s a l t c o n t e n t o f t h e Murray r i v e r wa te r .

The i n i t i a l symptoms showed up i n t h e o l d e r l eaves w i t h t h e t i p s go ing brown f o l l o w e d by t h e whole l e a f d y i n g . Q u i t e o f t e n , t h e g row ing t i p s appeared f a i r l y h e a l t h y f o r a month o r more u n t i l t h e browning p rocess caught up w i t h them.

A t t h e moment, t h e r e a r e abou t 20 s p e c i e s w i t h a few o f each wh ich look as i f t h e y w i l l s u r v i v e . One b a t c h appears t o have done b e t t e r than t h e r e s t and t h e o n l y d i f f e r e n c e I can r e c a l l i s t h a t I t r a n s p l a n t e d these d i r e c t l y i n t o 2 i n c h d i a m e t e r p l a s t i c bags whereas t h e o t h e r s were f i r s t p o t t e d on i n t o sma l l t ubes and l a t e r i n t o t h e bags. The h e a l t h i e s t o f t h e s u r v i v o r s i n c l u d e s e v e r a l forms o f D. f e r r u g i n e a ( T a r i n Rock and S t i r l i n g Range), D. p t e r i d i f o l i a / D . nervosa, D. f r a s e r i , D. b i p i n n a ti f i d a and D. praemorsa.

Over t h e l a s t few weeks we have p l a n t e d o u r r e m a i n i n g d r y a n d r a seed. I t w i l l be i n t e r e s t i n g t o see whether we a r e more s u c c e s s f u l w i t h t h i s l o t .

L l o y d and L o r r a i n e Carman

DRYANDRAS AT MYRRHEE, VICTORIA

A l t h o u g h I r a i s e d q u i t e a l o t o f d ryandras l a s t y e a r , I ' v e had t r o u b l e w i t h b o t h t h e b i r d s and t h e weather . B i r d s c o n t i n u a l l y p u l l o u t my l a b e l s l e a v i n g me w i t h p o t s o f unknown d r y a n d r a s w h i l e some o f t h e unseasonal h o t weather l a s t s p r i n g k i l l e d many o f my p l a n t s i n 3 p o t s . They were s t a n d i n g i n p o l y s t y r e n e boxes and I s u s p e c t t h e bot toms o f t h e p o t s s t a y e d wet f o r too l o n g . I n f u t u r e , I'll p u t c rushed r o c k i n t h e bo t tom o f t h e boxes. When I woke up t o what was happening, I p u t many o f t h e p l a n t s i n t h e garden and most s u r v i v e d . The r e s t I t r a n s p l a n t e d i n t o 6 p o t s w i t h coa rse sand and hop mulch. T h i s i s ro t ted-down leaves m a i n l y , a b l a c k pea ty o r s i l a g e t y p e m i x and most have done f a i r l y w e l l w i t h r o o t s coming t h r o u g h q u i t e q u i c k l y . Some o f them go y e l l o w , p r o b a b l y t h e m i x i s a b i t a c i d and I have t r i e d a s m a l l dose o f l i h e , a r u s t y n a i l and i r o n c h e l a t e . Some have r e v i v e d and grown, o t h e r s have passed

on b u t as soon as t h e y a r e s t r o n g enough, I t r y t o g e t them i n t o t h e garden. Our v e r y d r y summer and autumn have meant a l o t o f work w a t e r i n g a s I have been p l a n t i n g s i n c e Februa ry . The m i l d w i n t e r has meant e x c e l l e n t g row ing c o n d i t i o n s and w i t h t h e b r e a k i n g o f t h e d r o u g h t , t h i n g s s h o u l d l o o k r e a l l y good by s p r i n g .

Barbara Buchanan

( E d i t o r s n o t e on y e l l o w i n g i n p ro teaceae. Y e l l o w i n g o f s e e d l i n g s i s q u i t e common i n b o t h b a n k s i a and d r y a n d r a s e e d l i n g s . I b e l i e v e i t i s b a s i c a l l y an i r o n d e f i c i e n c y wh ich can be c o r r e c t e d by use o f i r o n c h e l a t e s o r f e r r o u s s u l p h a t e , watered on i n a d i l u t e s o l u t i o n - around one o r two teaspoons t o a 9 l i t r e w a t e r i n g can. However, on occas ions t h e y e l l o w i n g may be due t o z i n c o r even magnesium d e f i c i e n c y s o a s m a l l amount o f t r a c e e lement m i x can be d i s s o l v e d i n t h e w a t e r as w e l l . Many y e a r s ago, I was g i v e n t h e f o l l o w i n g " r e c i p e " f o r c o r r e c t i n g y e l l o w i n g and i t has a lways worked f o r me. I s i m p l y make up f o u r l i t r e s o f t h e s o l u t i o n and s p r a y i t on t o s e e d l i n g s o r y e l l o w i n g p l a n t s . I have o n l y t r i e d i t on p l a n t s i n p o t s a l t h o u g h i t s h o u l d work w i t h p l a n t s i n t h e garden. A second s p r a y may be necessa ry b u t u s u a l l y r e s u l t s beg in t o show w i t h i n one t o two weeks. The m i x i s : - D i s s o l v e i n t o 2.5 l i t r e s o f w a t e r , h a l f a teaspoon o f i r o n c h e l a t e s , h a l f a teaspoon o f z i n c s u l p h a t e and h a l f a teaspoon o f ammonium s u l p h a t e . Shake w e l l and s p r a y on as r e q u i r e d . W i t h s t a n d i n g , a p r e E i p i t a t e sometimes s e t t l e s o u t which can be d i s s o l v e d by s h a k i n g t h e s o l u t i o n b e f o r e use. I s t o r e t h e s o l u t i o n i n a da rk b o t t l e and i n d o e s n ' t seem t o d e t e r i o r a t e o v e r t i m e . )

DRYANDRAS I N ELTHAM, VICTORIA

L a s t September, I grew q u i t e a l o t o f d r y a n d r a s e e d l i n g s and a l t h o u g h my success r a t e w a s n ' t as h i g h as Ron P e a r s o n ' s ( s e e l a s t N e w s l e t t e r ) , I was p leased enough w i t h t h e number rema in ing t o c r e a t e a new bed e s p e c i a l l y f o r d ryandras . T h i s was made as a r a i s e d bed w i t h about 0.3 m o f t o p s o i l o v e r my clay s u b s o i l on a s l o p e i n p a r t i a l sun. Some sand p o c k e t s were made beh ind s m a l l r o c k s . Most o f my e x i s t i n g d ryandras have now been moved f rom a sandbed t o t h i s new one. They were f i r s t p u t i n t o l a r g e p l a s t i c p o t s and were k e p t i n a shadehouse w i t h f r e q u e n t w a t e r i n g f o r 4-8 weeks b e f o r e b e i n g r e p l a n t e d . The s u c e s s f u l moves were D. n o b i l i s ( 1 . 2 x 0.3 m, f l o w e r e d t h i s y e a r ) , D. a r c t o t i d i s ( t h r e e r a n g i n g i n s i z e f rom 0 . 1 x 0 . 1 m t o 0 .5 x 1 m ) , D. b a x t e r i ( t w o , 0 .8 x 0.2 m and 0 .2 x 0 .1 m ) , D. p t e r i d i f o l i a (0 .2 x 0.3 m ) and D. formosus ( c u t t i n g grown, 0.2 x 0 . 1 m ) . A D. drumrnondii wh ich was l o o k i n g p o o r l y has p u t on new g r o w t h a f t e r r e c e n t heavy r a i n . The f o l l o w i n g d i d n o t s u r v i v e t r a n s p l a n t i n g - D. n i vea ( 0 . 3 x 0.8 m ) , D. forrnosus ( c u t t i n g grown, 0 . 1 x 0 . 1 m ) and D. f e r rug inea .

The new bed a l r e a d y c o n t a i n e d a D. cuneata and a D . rnucronulata which had been been d o i n g w e l l a f t e r t h r e e yea rs . Bo th d i e d s l o w l y a f t e r t h e bed was remode l l ed and a l a r g e c a l l i s t e m o n was removed wh ich had been shad ing them.

The o t h e r d ryandras I have a re - g rowing i n abou t 50% sun i n r a i s e d c l a y beds ( a b o u t 0.3 m ) , w e l l d r a i n e d and mulched w i t h f a l l e n l eaves . They r e c e i v e f r e q u e n t summer wa te r . The d ryandras i n c l u d e f o u r seed grown and one c u t t i n g grown D. forrnosus, and D. hewardiana, D . praemorsa and D. t e n u i f o l i a . Only D. praemorsa has f 1 owered.

The D. forrnosus p l a n t s a l l came f rom seed and c u t t i n g s f rom a p l a n t a t o u r p r e v i o u s house. I t was a b o u t 1 x 3 m, v e r y compact and had f l o w e r e d a t two y e a r s . I t was a p a r t i c u l a r l y good form wh ich f l o w e r e d p r o f u s e l y ( a b o u t 60-70 f l o w e r s / y e a r . I t w a s abou t f i v e yea rs o l d when i t d i e d , a p p a r e n t l y f rom l a c k o f wa te r . F a r t u n a t e l y , I have managed t o s t r i k e a few c u t t i n g s and hope t h e y w i l l have t h e s p r a w l i n g h a b i t a f t h e p a r e n t p l a n t .

Just on a final note, I have had very little success with germinating seeds of some forms of D. n i v e a . I don't know if they are a difficult species or not but two batches of seed from a commercial seed source failed to produce a single seedling. I will try again this autumn.

Christene Wadey

RAISING DRYANDRAS FROM SEED

By way of an introduction to Keith's article which follows, I have included a series of Margaret's drawings showing the sequence - follicles (seed capsules) - seed - seedling. These and similar drawings will be used to illustrate the dryandra book and I believe they will help immeasurably with identification and provide material which is rarely available - the characteristics of seeds and seedlings of plant species. Margaret tells me she only has four taxa to draw and is currently raising seedlings of them.

Dryandra f r a s e r i

F o l l i c l e s i n s p e n t f l o w e r head

X 1

C a p s u l e anc? s e e d

S e e d l i n g X 1

RAISING DRYrnRAS FROM s m

A 1 1 species of Drpandra can be easily raised from seed - provided a few simple rules are followed and the seed is of good quality. This is the conclusion drawn from a review of two comprehensive sowings that were made in 1984 and in 1987 to produce plants for Cranbourne and other dryandra collections - private and public.

The overall statistics are summarised in the table below. Altogether, some 105-110 species or varieties were involved, out of an anticipated total of around 120 when the keenly awaited revision is completed.

Table 1

Summary Table

I Numbers I Planted 1-2 April 1 Category I 1984 I I I 1

I 1 Batches planted

I 1 9 8

1 Mean batch size I 22.2 I Seeds planted I 2174 1 Seedlings emerged ( % ) 1 1528 (70.3%) 1 Seedlings tubed-up ( % ) 1 1457 (67.0%) I Casualties ( % of seedlings 1 71 (4.6%) 1 emerged not tubed-up) 1

Planted 7-9 March and 14 April 1987

Totals I 1

The success rate measured in terns of seedling emergence was nearly 75X, with minor differences between the two years. Just over five percent failed to grow on to the stage where they could be tubed-up as healthy seedlings. I have examined the results to see whether certain species or species complexes of dryandras have characteristic emergence patterns, whether there sre any differences attributable to their provenance Isandplain, forest, Laterite outcrop), or to their habit (prostrate, small shrub, tall shrub) and whether the age or other quality determinant of seed affects germinability, pattern of emergence or post-emergence survival. The conclusion is that there are differences and that same species pose particular problems and require special treatment to ensure adequate germination levels. The necessity of starting with good quality seed is also emphasised and failures in this respect explain a number of mediocre results.

1. MATERIALS AE7D METHODS

1.1 Seed Collection

Ten batches of the seed used in the 1984 and 1987 sowings came from cultivated plants in Victoria. The remainder were from field collections in the west made by Dryandra Study Group members and donated to the Seed Bank. Before embarking on a field collecting expedition, the first hurdle to clear in collection of quality seed in the wild is to obtain the requisite permits from the West Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (C.A.L.M.), the procedures for which are outlined in Newsletter 18 by Margaret Pieroni (Collecting and Sorting Seed). The next is to find your plants1

The remainder would seem easy but, alas, this is not so. By this I do not only refer to the hazard to life, limb and particularly digits that the prickly varieties of dryandras pose. Through orc!!'.nary care and attention and the use of leather gloves and secateurs, the worst of the protective spines can be avoided. The real enemy is one or more species of tortricid moth which seem to lay eggs on all the largest and most productive dryandra flower heads. The the most common species hatches into a pudgy, rosy pink caterpiliar and usually only one is found in each head. The pernicious little insect eats its way through from where the eggs are deposited at the base of the seed head and then methodically sets about disposing of all the seeds. When this task is complete, the larvae, still just slightly more than lcm in length, pupate in the head, emerging later as adult moths to renew the cycle of damage. The external appearance of the flower head can be quite normal and, at first sight, the cspsules themselves can look sound, as only the bare minimum of capsule is consumed that will permit access to the seed.

Through careful observation, the tell-tale signs of insect frass (droppings) over the top and sides of the seed heads can reveal advanced cases of attack, but the early stages are difficult to pick until the heads are dissected. By collecting seed with secateurs, removing the head at its base, the absence of a penetration channel(s) can penerallv be taken as a guarantee of soundness, though it is best to do a little checking. This method of harvesting is the one I recommend. The moth population of an area seems to build up over time, so that the first fruits set after a fire renewal cycle are often less damaged by insects. There may be a compromise necessary to avoid very old seed heads, but if insects are proving a problem, the older heads nearer the base of the plant are more likely to contain sound seed.

Dryandra seed generally takes at least 6-9 months to mature so it is important to avoid taking seed which is any younger, however healthy the heads appear. Immature capsules are at first white, greenish or pinky white, later changing through reddish-brown to dark brown. When immature, the capsule will yield tc pressure from a fingernail, leaving a visible indentation. Mature capsules will feel hard and dry to such pressure. Most dryandras hold their seed until the death of the plant, usually triggered by fire. A small number of species shed seed as soon as it 1 s ripe, the capsules splitting while still on the plant and the naked, winged seeds blown out by the wind. In these cases there usually will be little, if any, seed left on the plant by the time the next flowering season commences. The species showing.this characteristic belong to the D. hewardiana/D. squarrosa/D. polycephala colnplex with the majority of their undescribed relatives, D, sessilis in all of its guises and the related pair D. nobilis and D. stuposa. Dryandra Draemorsa sheds seed over s longer period and at least some is retained for several years. Seed of all of these species can still be collected as entire capsules provided the timing is right, usually late summerIearly autumn. The capsules show no more tendency to split in storage than any other species, though the thin walled capsules can be more readily opened by heat or mechanical means than other dryandras.

Seed Storage

I have a preference for keeping seed heads whole, not even removing the capsules, let alone extracting the seed, until the time comes for sowing. This is partly because of convenience - harvesting whole seed heads is easier than prising out capsules in the field. I have a feeling of comfort in the naturalness of storing them in this way. In a practical sense, there are a few cases, D. mucronulata is a particular example, where the capsules are fastened so tightly to the base of the receptacle that pulling them away tears the leathery shell, which will then split, exposing the seed. Some species, including as Margaret Pieroni indicated in her Newsletter 18 article, D. ~roteoides, have a tendency to burst the capsules in storage - even in Melbourne temperatures1 In these and all other cases, leaving the seed in the seed head ensures that the capsules remain unopened.

Notwithstanding my prejudice against extracting seed for storage, I do not have any evidence that extracted seed will deteriorate if kept under reasonable conditions. Seed suppliers, Nindethana for instance, supply naked seed extracted from the capsule. This has two great advantages, the first being that the task of seed extraction is avoided by the purchaser. The second, and more important, is that the suppliers can check the quality of seed and can guarantee sound material. I would be surprised if this seed could not be successfully stored for five years. I would, however, be less confident expecting it to last ten or more years than I would be with seed left in the capsules and especially seed stored untouched in seed heads.

1.3 Seed Extraction

Many Newsletter articles have dealt with seed extraction, most recently the two in Newsletter 18 by Margaret Pieroni (see above) and Tony Cavanagh (Growing Dryandras - A Guide for Beginners). I have tried allmethods, but for the safety of the seed, I prefer to cut them out. I use a scalpel (personal safety being less important than the health of the seedl) to cut the top off the capsule, which often releases the surface tension holding the capsule together, allowing the two halves to spring apart. The species with leathery, thin capsules, such as the D. ferruainea group, the D. hewardiana/D. polycewhala/D. squarrosa complex, D. nobilis, D, stuposa and most of the D. nivea types, split readily when cut. Some capsules will not and further scalpel work is required. These are generally the very woody ones, D. quercifolia, D. speciosa, D. ashbyi, D. fraseri, D. carlinoides and Dryandra species nova aff. D. falcata (ASG 48) are amongst the most demanding.

Using the scalpel - and a wooden board, not the kitchen table - I place the tip of the blade between the two halves and priselcut down from the top of the wing along the lip of the capsule - as opposed to the spine or hinge side if you imagine the capsule as a mussel or clam shell. This is most often enough to release the remaining forces to allow the capsule to split. A very few may still hold fast and a decision will be required whether to keep cutting down the lip side. The seed lodged at the base of the capsule is very near to the lip at this point and there is a risk of damaging the seed with the slightest slippage of the scalpel. I usually resort to working on the other edge, the spine or hinge of the capsule. A few scoring cuts along the back, adjacent to where the seed lies, is usually enough to weaken the spine and allow the capsule to open from the lip side. For relatively easy species such as the D. armata/D. eirsioides complex, where you are really only seeking leverage to break surface tension, you can safely work on the wing side, the capsule splitting before the danger to seed arises. I have found that where real cutting is required, it is safer to split the hinge. Some species with large, robust looking capsules and which look to present a challenge at first sight, open quite readily. The D. pteridifolia complex, which includes D. blechnifolia, D. calophylla, D. druwnondii, D. nervosa, D. shanklandiarvm and several undescribed species, are a case in point.

While not many capsules contain two seeds, they all have a separator which nominally keeps the paired seeds apart. The (usually) single seed comes away readily from the separator, which can be hard and woody or thin and papery. In some cases, such as the D. pteridifolia types, adhesion to the sticky separator does not seem to matter and the whole capsule contents can be sown. Dryandra carlinoides is a species with a woody separator into which the seed is tightly wedged. It seems best to sow the entire contents rather than risk damage. The exceptions to all of these rules are the naked seeded Dryandra species : D. falcata and Dryandra species nova aff. D. falcata (ASG 9), P. serratuloides and Dryandra species nova aff. D. serratuloides (ASG 4 5 ) and the "Kamballup dryandra". These have thin membraneous skins, covered with long silky hairs, and enclose a single wingless seed. It is not necessary to attempt to remove the covering.

Seed Raisinq

There is one cardinal rule in raising seed of Drvandra species, and that is to use a free draining planting medium. Any supplementary rules all relate to the prevention of moisture build-up which may encourage damping-off fungi and bacterial rots which may consume the seed or seedlings. I sow up to 50 seeds per pot into shallow, 12cm wide and lOcm deep containers. For a potting medium, I have used coarse, sharp propagating sand without any additives and recommend this provided seedlings are tubed-up within a month of emergence. The mixture used in 1984 and in 1987 was a cutting mix of four parts coarse sand and one part peat moss. Seed is sown evenly over the surface with no particular care to orientation, then covered with the very lightest layer of the same mixture.

I have always used a very open mixture for seedling tubes and indeed for final potting-on. Both tubes and pots benefit from an occasional dose of iron chelates and a light sprinkling of a slow-release granular fertiliser such as "Osmocote". The benefits of a very open mix outweigh the need to supplement nutrition. The basis of my growing-on medium is the sandlpeat cutting mix with an additional one part of a loamy soil added. Once seedlings have true leaves they are pricked out into tubes. I use square section plastic tubes that are 14cm long, 5cm square across the top tapering to 4cm at the base. These have the added advantage of packing neatly in trays. The base is a single cross piece of plastic strip, which leaves more than half the basal area open and ensures that very little moisture is held in. I find I get little root curling because the roots are self-pruning at the open base of the tubes and this produces densely branching root system that fills out the tube.

Cultural precautions against damping-off should be complemented by the correct choice Y of growing conditions and sowing date. I have germinated seed under glasshouse conditions but prefer an open sunny position outdoors to avoid high humidity. For I southern growers, this tends to exclude the summer months from sowing, as the risk of

I allowing the mixture to dry out becomes acute. For northern growers, the summer rainy !

season with its concomitant high humidity makes summer sowing equally inadvisable. The cold and wet months of southern winters provide the greatest problems of seedling rots and June to October should be taboo, especially for Victorians. North of Sydney, on the other hand, where winters are mild and dry and humidity at its lowest point for the year, makes winter sowing ideal. Because of the variations in climate, the optimum planting time will vary in different parts of the country, but the general principles should hold - avoid cold dark and hot dry conditions equally and at all times try to avoid excessive humidity.

I have gravitated towards sowing seed when it starts to cool down in early March. The results presented here are from sowings over 1-2 April 1984 and from two separate batches in 1987, the first on 7-9 March and the second on 14 April. Seedlings start appearing after about four weeks and most can be potted-on within three months, hopefully before winter really sets in. I have used late Septemberlearly October sowings and achieved similar levels of emergence, but there is a greater risk of falling behind with the watering schedule, with the tender young seedlings quickly succumbing to drying out. Of equal importance in the selection of spring or autumn sowing is the preferred time that the plants are due to go to their final resting place. As I favour autumn planting, autumn sown seeds are ready twelve months from sowing, whereas a spring seed sowing means an eighteen month wait, by which time the plants have outgrown the tubes and require potting-on. I do not believe that dryandras grown on in 16cm (wide) pots are any more likely to survive in the garden that when planted straight from my 14cm (long) tubes. My experience suggests the reverse, provided the plants are given a chance - planted out in early spring or early autumn and allowed to establish before the first cold winter or hot summer.

I have been lucky to be in a position to use a sterilised seedling mixture, which reduces the problems with damping-off fungi. However, I have additionally taken the precaution of drenching the pots with a fungicide once a fortnight to discourage any fungus build-up. The water mould fungi, especially Pythium and related Phytaphthorn species are the most common cause of seedling damping-off. Dithiocarbamate fungicides such as zineb give reasonable control, but "Fongarid" (furalaxyl), "Previcurn (propamocarb) or "Aliette" (fosetyl-aluminium) are better. The other fungus that can cause problems is Rhizoctonia and here "Rovral" (iprodione) or "Ben1at.e" (benomyl) are indicated. A mixture of one chemical from each category will help produce healthy, vigorous seedlings.

1.5 Identification of Species

The revision of the genus Drysbdra by Mr Alex S George of the Bureau of Flora and Fauna, Canberra, is expected to approximately double the number of taxa (species and varieties), from 55-60 to about 120. In some cases, Alex will be reinstating names already applied by early taxonomists but subsequently discarded. George Bentham set the scerle in 1870 with his treatment of the genus in his Flora Australiensis, though it appears that he rejected many legitimate species. Cherles Gardner corrected many of Bentham's mistakes and named several new species between 1927 and 1964. The most recently named species have been D. mimica in 1984 and D. shanklandiorum in 1988. Alex has kindly shared with the Study Group some of his thoughts as to which names he will be reapplying and which of the remaining dryandras he feels he will be able to justify giving new names to. In the latter case, fifty-three probable new taxa have been given numbers in his working documents and he has provided this list to the Study Group to ensure a common understanding in our correspondence with him.

The seed collections described in this report have been identified as current species or by the narned species that the probable new taxon resembles (aff. = with affinity to) plus the A S George code number, 1-53. As the plants raised from the seed were intended for many public plantings, the presence of the numbers was to allow automatic application of the correct name when the revision is complete.

RESULTS

Emergence counts were commenced within a few days of the first seedlings appearing above ground, usually about 28-30 days from sowing. Counts were then taken at two to three d2.y intervals uric-il the figures stabilised, in most cases within ten days. The seedlings were allowed to establish true leaves and the beginnings of a root system before being tubed-up. This process was generally complete within another 30-40 days (70-80 days overall from sowing). Because of the numbers involved, tubing-up usually took several week-ends and, for instance, in 1987 the final tubes were completed on 2116, well over three months from the first sowing. Where emergence was low, any remaining seed was exhumed and examined at the time of tubing-up. Unsound or diseased seed feels soft and, if squeezed, the cotyledons can be pushed out of the seed coat as a discoloured yellowish-grey blancmange. Sound seed still feels firm and is white or a healthy cream colour when the seed coat is peeled back. Such seed was returned to the seed pots and kept for another month.

2.1 Emergence and Survival

The data from the germination counts are provided in sumnary form in Table 2a and 2b. Because the results appeared to be in strong agreement over the two years, the records have been combined and the average results are presented. The percentage emergence column is a simple calculation based on the number of seeds sown and the total cumulative emergence. This included seedlings which subsequently died and so the figure is a genuine "tota1"emergence not "final" emergence. The percentage of casualties is calculated on the number of these failures relative to the total emerged, g& to the total sown. The high and low extremes in these assessments are summarised in Table 3.

- Iq- *. = 2(b)

aff s&m$lylla (46)

atf. sa-mi3td.a (4)

AU, ErcaaiMdes

&. pmtmhks (37)

* Seedllr$s mxgd ha died before -. m s e d as a k-3 of total (curdative) m.

- I S -

Table 3

Emer~encelSurvivtil

Hinhli~hts and Lowli~hts

Greater than 90X Emergence

Less than 50% Emergence

Most Losses After Emergence (Top 12)

aff. conferta (21) aff. ferruginea (49) hewardiana aff. nivea (26) ashbyi var. (23) aff. armata (20) nobilis var. (24) aff. falcata (48) pulchella speciosa aff. conferta (31) aff. proteo'ides (37)

concinna 23.9 aff. serratuloides (45) 33.3 sessilis var. (52) 36.7 aff. blechnifolia (22) 37.9 lindleyana 40.6 shuttleworthiana 41.2 aff. drummondii (38) 41.4 aff. nivea (29) 43.5 nervosa 45.5 aff. calophylla (3) 48.8 subpinnatifida 48.8 foliolata 48.9

aff. conferta (21) 23.8 subulata 21.9 aff. ferruginea (40) 21.2 shuttleworthiana 20.0 aff. armata (11) 19.2 erythrocephala 18.7 aff. ferruginea (36) 18.2 stuposa 18.2 tridentata 18.2 aff. blechnifolia (22)18.2 aff. conferta (31) 14.9 aff. cirsioides (17) 14.3

The results indicated that the majority of Drvandra species were capable of providing more than fifty percent emergence. Traditionally "easy"species, such as D. nivea, D. ashbyi, D. fraseri, indeed proved so. The reliability of individual results based on sample sizes of 20-30 seeds appeared satisfactory but greater confidence may be generated by pooling results of several batches of seed of the same species or of closely related species. Where the combined data resulted in sample sizes of over 100 seeds, the D. canferta and D. ferruffinea species complexes were, with D. ashbyi, the only ones to show germination percentages higher than 80%. Other dryandra groups with more than 100 seeds planted and over 75% emergence were (in order) : D. falcata, D. fraseri, D. nivea, D. polycephalp and D. plumosa, with D. cirsioides and D. armata just under 75%.

Where fewer batches of seed or simply fewer seeds were involved, the observations are correspondingly less reliable, but good results were at least indicated with D. nobilis var. nova (ASG 24), D. pulchella, D. speciosa, Dryandra species nova aff. D. rnimica (ASG 16), D. subulata, D. bipinnatifida, D. kip~istiana, D. foliosissima, D, scleroph~lla and Drvandra species nova John Cullen (ASG 50), which all gave more than 85% emergence. The germination figures for some of the more commonly grown dryandras such as D. cuneata, D. and d. quercifolia were well under average, while D. fomosa, D. sessilis and D. tenuifolia were just under the overall mean figure.

Amongst the dryandras with the lowest germinability figures, there were a number of apparent connections. Dryandra concinna (23.0%), and its Stirling Range companion species D. foliolata (48.9%) were both in the worst twelve statistics. Dryandra nervosa and two related species (both undescribed) with the same flower type in the D. ~teridifolia complex (type A in Margaret Pieroni's article in Newsletter 161 viz., ASG 22 (aff . D. blechnif olia) and ASG 3 (aff . D. calonhvlla) , were together in this category. Two species of the D. nivea complex were, perhaps unexpectedly, also in the worst twelve. These were D. lindlevana and nryandra species nova aff. D. niveq (ASG 29) .

There seemed no logical connections to link the other species showing less than average germinability. In fact, many bad results for one species contrasted with good for a closely related one. The poor figures with Dryandra species nova aff. P. serratuloides (45) at 33.3% compared with its closest relative D. serratuloides at 75.4% and D. sessilis var. nova (ASG 52) at 36.7% contrasted with the standard D. sessilis 77.8% and D. sessilis var. nova (ASG 51) at 83.6%. Drvandra species nova aff. D. drunnnondii (ASG 38) showed only 41.4% emergence, which was somewhat worse than the moderate performance of D. drummondii at 61.6%. The remaining two species on the list of the lowest germinability were D. shuttleworthiana and D, subpinnatifida. D. subpinnatifida '(48.8%) has the open cup flower of the D. nivea complex and shared with D. pulchella, which provided mostly high figures. The closest floral resemblance to D. shuttleworthiana, at 41.2% emergence, is D. sweciosa which was one of the very best at 91.821

Taking results from species/groups of species where reliably large sample sizes were available, the data on losses between emergence and tubing-up show higher post-emergence problems amongst the D. conferta and D. ferru~inea complexes than any other. A group of five undershrubs from the Northern Sandplain: D. subulata, D, shuttleworthiana, D. tridentata, D. s p e c i o x and nryandra species aff. D. armata (ASG ll), (the last from Sandplains further north, beyond Geraldton); formed a significant bloc amongst the twelve worst offenders in the body count.

2.2 Pattern of Emergence

The speed of emergence figures in Table 2 and the summary Tables 4 and 5 have also been averaged over the two years. Although the dates did not precisely overlap, the 30, 40, 50, 60 and 90 day records are within three to four days of being correct. The percentage calculations provided in the tables use as the denominator the highest number finally emerged. Therefore, the figures show the rate of progress towards 100% of the seedlings which actually came up, however low the real emergence percentage might have been relative to the number sown (or the number tubed-up). The very first emergence generally occurred some 23-24 days after sowing. In the race to be first up, there were only a few genuine contenders : D. sessilis, D, polycephala, D, hewardiana, D. ncbilis (all species which shed seed between seasons), D. falcata, D. ashbyi and D. fraseri being the most notable. Most collections of these species achieved over 50% emergence by day 30, in some cases, 100% of the final stand was up and growing by this time. The thirty day percentages of the top twelve tallies are given in Table 4.

The large seeded D, pteridifolialb. blechnifolialD. ca1ophyllalD. drunrmondiil D. nervosal'f). shanklandioeum complex were amongst the slowest to emerge. In almost all cases these species also featured amongst those with low final percentage germination figures. However, some of the more successful species or groupings in terms of germinability were slow to achieve their figures. For instance, D. ferruninea, D. nfvea and D. cirsoides. The twelve taxa with the worst emergence record by day 40 are listed in Table 4. The group is a diverse one taxonomically. Improved final figures were usually apparent after another 20-30 days. The two exceptions were the Stirling Range species D. concinna and D. foliolata, one batch of the latter failing altogether, the other and the two batches of D. concinna requiring an additional 30-60 days, taking them well into winter before significant numbers appeared.

Table 4

Speed of Emer~ence

Fastest and Slowest

Greater than 70% Emergence by Day 30 Less than 2 5 % Emergence by Day 40

sessilis var. ( 5 1 ) sessilis var. ( 5 2 ) aff. hewardiana ( 2 5 ) sclerophylla aff. falcata (9) aff. armata ( 2 0 ) polycephala ashbyi var. ( 2 3 ) speciosa nobilis var. ( 2 4 ) purdieana sessilis

concinna longif olia aff. mimica ( 1 6 ) f oliolata foliosissima drummondii aff. conferta (5) aff. ferruginea ( 3 5 ) aff. ferruginea ( 3 4 ) mimi ca aff. plumosa ( 4 7 ) arctotidis

To be concluded n e x t n e w s l e t t e r .

KINGS PARK WILDFLOWER SHOW

September-October a r e g o i n g t o be v e r y busy months i n Western A u s t r a l i a . Over the p e r i o d o f a few weeks, t h e r e w i l l be t h e ASGAP B i e n n i a l Conference, an I n t e r n a t i o n a l Pro teaceae Conference and t h e K ings Park W i l d f l o w e r Show. T h i s l a s t w i l l be h e l d between September 27 and October 2. Margare t has been asked t o p r o v i d e a d i s p l a y o f d r y a n d r a s and is w e l l on t h e way t o f i n a l i s i n g i t . She p l a n s t o have a d i s p l a y o f c u t f l o w e r s , c o l o u r p i c t u r e s o f v a r i o u s s p e c i e s and s e v e r a l l a r g e s c a l e d raw ings o f t h e i n f l o r e s c e n c e , f l o w e r s t r u c t u r e and seeds and s e e d l i n g s .

If members a r e g o i n g t o t h e west a t t h i s time, Margare t would be v e r y p leased t o meet you. Whi le she and o t h e r WO members w i l l be a b l e t o s u p p l y f r e s h d ryandra specimens, Margare t would a l s o welcome h e l p on t h e s t a n d . P lease c o n t a c t he r (093305208) i f you can a s s i s t , even i f o n l y f o r a few hours .

4 8 - SHEPPARTON GET-TOGETHER

Saturday and Sunday 24-25 August, 1991

The weekend is planned as a n informal get-together and will involve garden and nursery visits on the Saturday, with a pub tea on Saturday night followed by a slide night and discussion at David and Pam Shiells. There will be a bush visit finishing up with a BBQ on the Sunday. Planning is tentative at this stage a s it will depend on numbers. You will need to make your own arrangements for accommodation but David tells me the Pine Lodge Caravan Park and the Overlander Hotel/Motel are reasonable and are close to his house. David and Pam Shiells will be our hosts and I suggest we all meet at Davids house in Mason Court, by 10.30am on the Saturday. It is anticipated we will break about 2.30-3.00pm on Sunday.

Please let me know either by phone (052 47 1718 - work or 052 55 1 180 - after hours) or complete the attached form and post it to me. I need to know by July 22nd at the latest. A final program (including a map of Shepparton) will be sent to all participants in early August.

Shepparton Get-Together : August 24-25, 1991

I(we) ...... . . . . . . , . . ., . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . wdl be attending the Shepparton Get-Together. There will be . . . . . . . . . . . . .p eople in our party. We elxpect to arrive in Shepparton at ........,,.,.,, am on the Saturday.

Please post to: Tony Cavanagh 16 Woodlands Drive OCEAN GROVE V 3226

bv 22nd Jdv. 1991

SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR

The group's year runs froduly 1, 199 1 to June 30, 1992. Subscriptions are $5.00 for Australian members and $8.00 for overseas. Please make cheques payable to the Dryandra Study Group and forward to Margaret. Thanks to all those who have already paid.

Name :

Address :

COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR INFORMATION :

3 day "Sew-Drive1' trip to the StkUng Ranges - 11 /12/ 13th October, 1991

This trip has been arranged to take in as many dryandras as possible; between 40 and 50 taxa should be seen at proposed stops on the way and in the Stirling Ranges. A full day d l be spend in the Stirlings and the return to Perth will be via Dryandra Forest. mere will be time to see many other wildflowers as well as d ~ a n d r a s , Bring slides, photos or specrmens to share at get-togethers in the evenings at the Stirling Range Caravan Park.

Please complete the form if you'd like to join us, and send it to me before 30th -t-

If you need further details please contact me : Margaret Pieroni 16 Calpin Cres., Attadale WA 6156 phone (09) 330 5208

Name :

Address :

Home phone number :

Number of people :

How will you be travelling? 1. Self contained vehicle, e.g. caravan

2. Driving your own vehicle - if so, what (shared) accommodation will you require? - on site van or cabin? (please speclfy)

- for how many people?

3. Can you give someone a lift? (sharing expenses)

4. Do you need a lift?

Contact address in Perth :

Date of arrival in Perth :